Kings of Leon’s Caleb Followill | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #694

Chapters

• 0:00 Meet Caleb Followill — Theo introduces the Kings of Leon singer and the new album. A drone-washing clip and Nashville’s autumn leaves set a loose, conversational opening. Followill recalls Memphis-area beginnings and summers with Louisiana relatives. The two compare accents, humidity, childhood mischief and roofing jobs.
• 7:00 His father’s revival circuit — Followill remembers a charismatic preacher father, living out of a car, making temporary friends and finding stability with his brothers. Music and occasional church responsibilities became early training. Revival memories turn into movie talk: Steve Martin’s evangelist, a Van Damme rental and Robert Duvall’s The Apostle. Crazy Heart leads into Ryan Bingham, Jeff Bridges and the lingering life of a movie character.
• 17:30 Pentecostal services and the energy of music — Followill describes drums, familiar sermon beats and the excitement of services. The conversation includes late dinners at Shoney’s and a comic digression about calories burned praying. They discuss the physical and emotional atmosphere of services. Followill recounts experiences he understands through faith, while distinguishing his family’s church life from snake handling.
• 29:10 Poverty, humor and proving your worth — A church’s Disney World tickets become an example of an unusual childhood. Followill and Theo compare what growing up with little taught them about self-reliance, laughter and belonging.
• 38:30 Leaving Oklahoma and choosing music — After painting houses, Followill describes feeling drawn back to Tennessee. He and Nathan began writing songs, and their mother encouraged a move toward Nashville. An a cappella performance for his future stepfather brought practical support. The brothers tried local music-business doors before finding a more receptive audience in New York.
• 45:30 A record deal before the finished band — Followill recalls record-label offers, returning to Nashville and bringing Jared and cousin Matthew into the group. A Thin Lizzy guitar solo over the phone helped make the case for Matthew. An early recording unexpectedly drew British interest. Small American shows became rehearsal for a London arrival where their songs were already on the radio. A nervous first British bill turned into a lesson in leaning into their Southern sound. Back home, magazine covers did not immediately translate into recognition.
• 57:00 Better Man and being famous in one country — A discussion of Robbie Williams’ film connects to the band’s experience of uneven fame. Followill also recalls playing table tennis with Prince Harry. Followill remembers being personally requested for a tour, a brief backstage compliment and a farewell hug. The story includes the contrast between the headliner’s lodging and the opening band’s hotel.
• 1:02:00 Brotherhood under pressure — Family made success less lonely but did not eliminate competition, arguments or ego. Followill explains why he wanted to keep the band together rather than pursue a solo identity. Followill looks back at a period when he felt cut off from his band and crew. Starting to play at soundcheck could gradually bring the other instruments—and the group—back together.
• 1:14:50 Enjoying the work again — The two discuss needing a drink before performing and the trap of repeating a persona. Followill contrasts those years with enjoying shows, speaking to audiences and feeling connected again. The new record reflects childhood, family and the men the band members have become. Followill says continued work sometimes looked like disappearance because the band was quieter about it.
• 1:20:00 Only by the Night and sudden worldwide success — Sex on Fire and Use Somebody bring the conversation to the pressure of a breakthrough. Followill describes both trying to escape that moment and the difficulty of recreating it. They discuss the expectations around aging performers, the danger of isolation and the difference between an audience’s poster image and the person living behind it.
• 1:28:00 Theo’s airport meeting with Nick Hexum — An encounter with 311’s singer brings back childhood joy. The discussion returns to the importance of favorite musicians surviving long enough to keep performing. Followill talks about Nathan’s protective role, Jared’s humor and Matthew’s place alongside the three brothers. The band’s family structure remains its defining connection.
• 1:35:10 A personal relationship with faith — Followill reflects on bitterness about how his father was treated and describes prayer, searching and parenting without claiming perfection. Theo connects that to the relief of hearing another person speak honestly in recovery meetings. Followill imagines the band backing their father in a modest church, with The Band as a musical comparison. A preaching clip, festival talk and news of his father bring the conversation to its close.

People

Products

O My Beloved — Kings of Leon’s new album, introduced at the start and revisited in the conversation about gratitude and family. Official site 0:00

Leap of Faith (rec, Theo) — Film: Theo calls Steve Martin’s traveling-evangelist story “one of my favorite movies of all time.” Amazon 11:15

Curly Sue — Film: a passing joke about the old mail-order movie-club model. Amazon 11:33

Double Impact — Film: the Van Damme twins story identifies the childhood rental being recalled. The linked edition is MVD’s 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray set. Amazon 11:50

Ready for a Miracle — Song: they recall and briefly sing the revival-movie number. The linked edition is the Leap of Faith soundtrack CD. Amazon 12:25

Fletch Lives — Film: the sequel is recalled during the discussion of screen evangelists. Amazon 13:00

The Apostle (rec, Caleb) — Film: Caleb calls it Robert Duvall’s best work; Theo wants to see it. Amazon 13:35

Crazy Heart (rec, Theo) — Film: its portrait of Bad Blake prompts a longer conversation about music, drinking and fictional characters. Amazon 13:39

The Weary Kind (rec, Theo) — Ryan Bingham song from Crazy Heart: “If you want to cry in a parking lot… put that on.” The linked edition is the Crazy Heart soundtrack on vinyl. Amazon 13:40

Tron: Legacy — Film: Garrett Hedlund and Jeff Bridges enter the conversation through a story about preparing songs. Amazon 15:47

WHOOP — The fitness-tracker brand is the punchline to a joke about prayer and exercise. Official site 20:51

Dateline — Television series: a passing reference during the life-insurance segment. Wikipedia 22:43

Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon — Documentary: the band’s childhood film is invoked as Theo asks about poverty on the revival circuit. Amazon 29:40

Country Weekly — Magazine: Followill remembers looking through music-industry listings while trying to get to Nashville. Wikipedia 41:39

Wayne’s World — Film: the arrival of a record-industry limousine is compared to a movie moment. Amazon 46:00

Holy Roller Novocaine — Debut EP: the early recording behind Followill’s story of an unexpected British breakthrough. Amazon 49:31

Free Bird — Lynyrd Skynyrd song: a request at an early show before the band felt ready to play its own set. The linked edition is the album Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd on vinyl. Amazon 51:00

NME — Magazine: British covers become a symbol of the gap between overseas acclaim and recognition at home. Wikipedia 53:52

Better Man (rec, Caleb) — Film: the Robbie Williams biopic (“this movie is so good”), while discussing fame in different countries. Amazon 57:13

Only by the Night — Album: the 2008 breakthrough and the pressure it placed on the band. Amazon 1:20:00

Sex on Fire — Song: one of the instantly recognized hits Followill connects to the breakthrough album. The Amazon edition is the Only by the Night CD. Amazon 1:21:00

Use Somebody — Song: another hit from the same album and part of the discussion of success and pressure. Linked as part of the Only by the Night album on CD. Amazon 1:21:00

Sports Illustrated — Magazine: Kathy Ireland posters and old issues come up in the nostalgic conversation about bedroom walls. Wikipedia 1:31:52

The Bible — Followill says he reads it while describing a personal and questioning relationship with faith. Wikipedia 1:36:21

The Grapes of Wrath — Title invoked as a shorthand for hard times in the closing discussion, not a reading recommendation. Amazon 1:43:59

Discussed on the show

Pentecostalism — Followill describes the music, travel and communal energy of the church environment in which he grew up. Wikipedia 7:00

Glossolalia — Speaking in tongues becomes a discussion of emotional and physical expression in religious services. Wikipedia 24:20

Poverty and belonging — The two compare childhood self-reliance and the feeling of needing to prove one’s worth. 29:10

Family as a support system — Brothers and a cousin provide continuity through success, competition and conflict. 1:02:00

Stage persona and isolation — Followill describes how drinking and the expectation to repeat a persona affected his experience of performing. 1:10:50

Faith without a pedestal — Followill describes prayer, questions and trying to be a good parent without presenting himself as perfect. 1:35:10

Go Deeper

• Kings of Leon: official site
• O My Beloved: album and track list
• Album release and 2027 tour: November 6 announcement
• Talihina Sky: official Tribeca festival synopsis

Places

Ads

• Ethos (22:05) — Paid life-insurance read; eligibility, application times and rates vary. Sponsor site
• How to Rob a Bank (23:39) — Paid theatrical film promotion; the read gives November 13 as the opening date.
• BetterHelp (55:40) — Paid therapy-service read describing an introductory offer and insurance availability. Sponsor site